The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-31

/ still, striving TO master the past and
inform myself of what had become Of
me.
In few minutes the door of the
cabin was opened and a jolly red-faced
man, wearing Scotch cap, looked in.
Seeing me with nay eyes open. he came
forward and exclaimed. in a cheerful
voice:
.'All alive o! Staring about you full
of wonderment! Nothing so good a:
curiosity in a sick man. Are you
| hungry"
VERY" saidL
''Thirsty?"
Yes"
I'm send you in some beef-tea," he
said, ..by person who'll be able TO do
| YOU more good than / can But DONE
excite yourself. Converse calmly, and
don't talk too much"
So saying. he went away.
l lay quite still, and my memory re-
manned as helpless as though l had
just been born.
After an interval of about ten min
utes the door was again opened, and
Mary came in. She closed the door
and approached me, holding a cup OF
heef-tea in her hand; but, however she
had schooied herself to behave, her
resolution forsOOk her; she put the
| cup down. threw her arms around my
neck, and sobbed with her cheek
against mine.
With my recognition of her, my
memory returned to me.
My darling" l cried. in weak
voice, lis it you. indeed? Oh, God is
very merciful to have spared us! re-
membered nothing just now; but all
has come back to me with your dear
face"
She was too overcome TO speak for
some moments; but, raising herself
presently. she said, in broken tones:
Il thought / should never see you
again, never be able to speak to YOU
more. But am wicked to give way
to my feelings, when | have been told
that any excitement must be danger
Gus to my darling. Drink this, now
no, | will hold the cup to Your lips.
Strength has been given me to bear
the suffcrings we have gone through,
that / may nurse you and bring you
back to health.
would not let 20 her hand: but
when attempted to prop myself up, |
found my elbow would not sustain me;
so lay back and drank fIom the cup
which she held to my mouth.
How long is it," / asked her, ''since
we were taken on board this vessel?"
-Four days. Do you know that you
fell down insensible in the boat the
moment after / had been carried onto
the deck Of this ship? The men crowded
around me and held their lanterns to
nv face, and found that most of them
were Scotch by their EXPLANATIONS. A
woman took me by the hand to lead
me away. but refused to move one
step until | saw thaG you were on
board. She told me that you had
tainted in the boatswain's arms, and
others cried out that you were dead.
saw them bring you up out of the boat,
and told the. woman that | must 60
with you and see where they put You.
and asked if ther. was n doctor on
board. She said yes, and that he was
that man in the Scotch cap and great
coat, who was helping the others to
take you down stairs. 1 took your
poor senscless hands and cried bitterly
over them, and told the doctor would
60 on my knees to him if he would
save your life. But he was very kind
very kind and gentle"
land you, Mary? | soc YOU keep up
your wonderful courage to the last.
Il tainted when the doctor took mo
away from you," sine answered, with
one of her sweet, wistful smiles. Il
slept far into the next day, and | rose
well yesterday morning. and have been
by your side nearly ever since. 1t is
rather hard upon me that your con-
seriousness should have returned when
| had left the cabin for few minutes"
made her turn her face to the light
shat | might see her clearly, and found
that though her mental and physical
suaCrings had lett traces on her calm
and beautiful face, yet. on the whole,
she looked fairly well in health, her
eyes bright, her complexion clear, and
her lips red, with firm expression on
them. ! also took notice that she was
we'll dressed in Il black silk, though
probably was not good critic enough
just then in such matters 10 observe
that it fitted her i'll, and did no manner
of justice 10 her lovely shape.
SIZE caught me looking at the dress,
and told me, with smile, that it had
been lent to her BY lady passenger.
Why do you stand?' / said.
THE doctor only allowed me to see
Won on condition that did not stay
ahOvo five ninuteS -
That is nonsense! can not let you
go, now you are here. Your dear
face gives me back all the strength l
have lost"
"Yol are talking too much. l shall
leave YOU"
You can not while l hold yourhand.
lam not stronger than you are?"
I'm all things stronger. Mary. You
have been my guardian angel. You
interceded for my life with God, and
He heard You when He would not have
heard Inc"
She placed her hand on my mouth.
"You are talking too much. L say.
You reproach yourself for your weak
ness, but try 10 remember what you
have gone through; how you had to
battle the mutineers, to take charge of
the ship, TO save Olr lives from their
terrible designs. Remember. too. that
for days together you scarcely closed
your eyes in sleep-that you did the
work of a whole crew during the
storm. Dearest, what you have gone
through would have broken many
mans heart or driven him mad. 1t has
left you your own true self for me 10
love and cherish while God shall spare
us to each other"
She kissed me on the mouth, drew
her hand from mine. and with q smiie